The impact of a community mental health center on psychiatric hospitalizations in two Athens areas

This paper explores the impact of a Community Mental Health Center interven tion activities on the inpatient psychiatric morbidity of two areas served by this center. Athens University established this Center, the first of its kind in the Greater Athens area. A comparison among the utilization rates of inpatient psychiatric services by community residents during the years 1 979, 1985, 1991 and 1995 is made. The results of the 1995 survey show a sig nificant reduction in the number and days of hospitalization and a remarkab le cut in compulsory admissions when compared with those in 1979. It is con cluded that medication monitoring, outreach, domiciliary care for patients in crisis, and day care are effective and robust principles of mental healt h services.